Display stand



Get. 13, 1959 w, R|HTER 2,908,400

DISPLAY STAND Filed June 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7/ igvmvgoze.

{ Oct. 13, 1959 w. H. RICHTER DISPLAY STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1958 INVENTOR. A Maw/ 4m BY WW, Wgfm Oct 13, 1959 Filed June 12, 1958 w.' H. RICHTER DISPLAY STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I .4? ll.

INVENTOR. (fad /221m United States Patent DISPLAY STAND Walter H. Richter, Glenview, II]. Application June 12, 1958, Serial No. 741,642 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-448) The present invention relates to display stands and more particularly to a prefabricated display stand which is well adapted for displaying and providing storage for merchandise intended for sale.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved stand which may be used alone or in conjunction with others similar thereto for the puipose of displaying merchandise for sale in an attractive manner, and which also has provision for the storage of additional stock of the merchandise.

Another object is to provide a novel display stand which can be formed substantially completely of plywood ele ments which conveniently may have a uniform thickness throughout, and such that the stand may be delivered and stored in knocked down condition, the elements thereof being capable of quick assembly in an interlocking manner so as not to require the use of tools, and such that an assembled stand may be quickly taken apart and set up in a new location.

Another object is to provide a novel display stand of the character described which is readily adapted either to be used alone or in ponjunction with others of a similar nature.

Yet another object is to provide an improved display stand of the character described above which is admirably adapted for displaying samples of such medium sized appliances as electric toasters, mixers, and the like, for instance at an appropriate elevation, and which, in addition, provides space closely associated with the display models that is well adapted to store a stock of several like articles which are for sale in their original cartons if desired.

Still another object is to stand of the type described which may be manufactured, shipped, stored, erected, knocked down, and moved at extremely low cost so as to reduce the overhead expense associated with the sale of merchandise.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display stand embodying my invention shown in erected condition and ready for use in conjunction with others of a like nature;

Figs. 2 to 5 are perspective views showing successive stages in the erection of the article of Fig. l; of these, Fig. 2 illustrates the erection of the base supporting structure; Fig. 3 shows the assembly of the baseboard to the support and the arrangement for locking it thereto; Fig. 4 illustrates the addition of the compartment forming and top support panels; Fig. 5, the assembly of the top thereto, together with the addition of a vertical center divider for the top surface;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view which may be considered as taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of a pair of adjacent display stands showing the arrangement for attaching stands together in provide an improved display Fice provide a continuous display is a multiple of that of one tandem relationship so as to stand having a length which of the display stands;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the left end of the display stand as seen in Fig. 1, with the elements assembled in an alternative relationship so as to provide a non-symmetrical display stand; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view which may be considered as taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

In order to reduce the cost and facilitate the merchandising of small and medium sized articles, such as certain electrical appliances for instance, it is proposed to display samples of the articles for sale at a convenient level for inspection by a prospective purchaser. These samples furthermore are closely associated with a stock of identical articles, preferably in their original containers, so that a purchaser can inspect the samples of the articles on sale, decide upon the one desired, and then pick out an identical model of the sample article in its original container and take it with him to a checkout counter, much as groceries are sold in self-service stores.

The display stand of the present invention is admirably adapted to be fabricated on a quantity basis at extremely low cost and shipped in knocked down condition, such thatthese stands can then be quickly assembled on the premises and attached in end-to-end relationship or positioned as otherwise desired within the sales room. These stands have a neat and attractive appearance and provide a top shelf upon which merchandise for sale can be displayed in an operating condition, and such that it is available for inspection by a prospective purchaser. The stand is arranged such that it can be approached from either side, so that in effect the top provides twodisplay platforms in back-to-back relationship and directly below each of the sample articles there is the provision of storage space within which several of the identical articles are stocked.

Thus the customer wishing an electric toaster, for instance, can inspect the several toasters displayed upon the top shelf and decide upon the one desired, after which he will find a stock of that identical toaster in original cartons. isolated in a compartment within the same display stand directly beneath the model chosen.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the display stand is made up of a rectangular baseboard 10 supported above the floor of the building a matter of six inches or so upon a framework indicated generally by the numeral 12. In the form shown in Fig. l, the base 10 is approximately 8' long by 4' wide, and is divided longitudinally by a vertical panel 14 which in turn is subdivided transverseIy by four partitions 16, 18, 20, and 22. The divider 14 and partitions 16 to 22 have their top edges in a common horizontal plane, and these top edges support a top member or shelf 24. As top surface thus formed is separated into halves by a longitudinal vertical partition 26 which, in Fig. 1, is directly above and in alignment with the divider 14. The panels 16, 18, 20', and 22 are approximately equally spaced, and the end panels 16 and 22 are spaced inwardly from the ends of the base 10 by an amount which is approximately one half the spacing between adjacent panels.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the right hand end of the struc ture is closed by an end panel 28 which extends from the floorto the top edge of the divider 26, with its side edges tapered so as to be substantially flush with the side edges of both the top surface forming member 24 and the base 10. If desired, a second end panel, which may be a duplicate of the panel 28, can be used for closing the opposite end of the structure, or, if desired, two

shown, the

or more devices, as shown in Fig. 1, may be placed in tandem relationship with end panels 28 used only at the ends of the combined structure.

The stand, when in assembled condition, therefore provides on each side three relatively wide bins between adjacent partitions 16, 18, 20, and 22, and two half width bins at the ends if end closures 28 are used. When two of the stands are placed in end-to-end relationship, the contiguous half width bins provide one of full width. Directly above each of these bins, which are large enough to contain several of the articles on sale in original cartons or other packages for instance, space is provided on the top shelf 24 for displaying a sample device identical to those which are packaged and in the bin below.

The central partition 14 separates the two sets of bins and prevents mixing, and the top divider 26 similarly serves to isolate the models on display at one side of the cabinet from those on the other side. Thus each side of the cabinet, when constructed as shown, is adapted to display three comparatively large articles over the full size bins, and two srnaller articles, one at each end, directly above the half width bins. If two cabinets are used in end-to-end relationship, then of course the adjacent small bins on the separate cabinets operate as one large bin and display shelf, similar to those toward the center of the stand. a

As is best seen in Fig. 9, the display stand is adapted to have the central partition 14 easily shifted to one side so as to provide larger bins on one side and small bins on the other. This arrangement is convenient for providing accommodation for unusually large and small articles and articles sold in large quantity where the availability of a relatively large stock of items at the point of sale is desirable.

Although dimensions are largely a matter of choice, the stand of Fig. 1 may conveniently have a size such that the table top 24 is about 37 inches above the floor, the baseboard is about six and one-half inches above the floor, and has dimensions of 8 x 4', whereas the top shelf has dimensions of 8 x 3. The panels 16, 18, 20, 22, and 28 are tapered as previously described so as to be flush with the side edges of the baseboard 10 and top 24. As shown in Fig. 1, the central dividing panel 14 is centrally located transversely, and the top divider 26 is directly thereover and is about fifteen inches high. With the central divider shifted to one side as shown in Fig. 9, it is so disposed that it is about one foot from one side and about three feet from the other. All of the plywood used in the construction of this article may have a thickness of one-half inch, and the exposed edges thereof are preferably covered by appropriate strips, such ashalf round /2 inch wide finishing strips for instance.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the base support for the stand is there indicated generally by the numeral 12. It is comprised principally of a pair of longitudinally extending rails 30 interconnected near their ends by transversely extending rails 32. The rails 30 and 32 have a length equivalent to the length and width respectively of the baseboard 10, and are approximately six inches high. Inwardly of their ends, a matter of three inches or so, the front and back rails 30 are slotted upwardly from the bottom edge, as at 34, and similar slots 36 extend downwardly from the top edge of the end rails 12. These slots have a width of one-half inch if one-half inch plywood is used, and this is true of all the slots to be described throughout the structure. The slots extend halfway through, so that by interfitting the slots 36 of the transverse rails with the slots 34 of the front and back rails, and pressing them together, the top surfaces of all of the rails are in a common plane, and the elements provide arectangular frame about six inches high. In addition to the basic structure, there are three equally spaced intermediate transversely extending rails 38 which are about four inches high and 42 inches long. These transverse members also have slots or notches 4Q which interfit with notches 42 formed downwardly from the top in the front and back rails 30.

Besides the notches described above for locking together the elements forming the base frame, the rails are also provided with slots extending downwardly from the top edges as follows. A set of slots 44 is formed in the end rails 32 spaced slightly inwardly of the slots 36. Slots 46 are formed at the midpoint of each of the intermediate rails 38, and a similar set of slots 48 is provided in the rails 38 approximately nine inches inwardly from the near ends of the rails 38 as seen in Fig. 2. The utility of the slots 44, 46, and 48 will appear presently. At this juncture, however, it is worth noting that the rails 32 are identical, and this is also true of the two rails 30 and the three rails 38. There are, therefore, only three differently shaped parts in the base support.

The baseboard 10 is a rectangular panel of plywood having the previously given dimensions. This panel 10 has a straight slot 50 six feet long cut therethrough along the center line. Another slot having the same length is shown at 52 and is disposed directly over and in alignment with the slots 48 in the base support members 38 when the baseboard is properly positioned. After the baseboard is so located, a one and one-half inch by six foot key 54 is pushed into the slot 52 so that its lower edge enters into the slots 48 in the base cross members 38, its top edge being substantially flush with or slightly below the top face of the baseboard 10. This key acts to lock the baseboard 10 to the base supporting structure 12 so as to prevent relative shifting of these elements.

The central dividing partition 14 is cut from a rectangular piece of plywood having a length equivalent to that of the baseboard 10. Its lower edge is formed to provide a downwardly extending tang or tab 56 which is six feet long and extends downwardly beyond the remaining bottom edge portion of the panel by a matter of an inch and a half or so. This tab 56 is fitted into the slot 50 in erecting the stand, and the panel pushed downwardly as far as it will go so that its lower extremity enters well within the slots 46 in the transverse base supports 38.

At its upper edge its central portion, beginning about one foot in from each end, is cut away as at 58 to provide a clearance space having a height of two inches or so. At the ends of this clearance space, and at two equally spaced intervals therebetween, downwardly extending slots 60 are formed. All of these slots extend halfway to the baseboard It The transverse dividers, 16 to 22, have a height which is equivalent to the distance from the baseboard 1-6 to the top edge of the central panel 14. These transverse panels, as previously mentioned, are tapered as necessary, so as to conform at their bottom and top to the width of the bottom panel 10 and top member 24 between which they are located. These panels 16 to 21'. are slotted up from the bottom in a central location as at 62, so that the slots 62 and 6') can be intcrfitted and the transverse partitions pushed downwardly until their lower edges are against the baseboard 10.

An additional set of slots 64-, otherwise identical to the slots 62 are provided toward one side so that when the partitions 16 to 22 are in position, the slots 64 are in alignment with the slot 52 in the baseboard. Thus it will be seen that, if desired, the key 54 can be removed from the side slot 52 in the baseboard 1t) and moved to the center slot 50 and pressed into place, after which the central panel 14 can be shifted so that its tang 56 enters the side slot 54, thereby dividing the baseboard into front and back sections of unequal size. \Vhen the transverse panels are then erected, the slots 64 are engaged with the slots 60. Thus, whether the panel 14- is centrally located or is shifted to one side, the panels 16 to 22 nevertheless always have the same relationship relative to the baseboard 1t) and top '24.

The top shelf 24 is formed of a simple rectangular piece of plywood, its length being the same as that of the base 18, although its width is somewhat less. This top panel 24 has a centrally located longitudinally extending slot 66 which is disposed so as to lie directly above the recessed edge 58 at the top of the central divider 14. The top divider 26 has a length which is the same as that of the top shelf 24, and a height as desired. In the present example, the height is about 15 inches. At its lower edge it has a downwardly extending tang 68 which has a proper length (about two and one-half inches) to enter the slot 66 and secure the divider 26 to the top panel. When it has been so arranged and pushed downwardly as far as it will go, the lower end of the tang 68 extends below the lower edge of the top member 24 and into the clearance space provided by the recessed edge 58 of the central dividing panel 14 if this panel is located on the center line of the base. The lower portion of the tang 68 also extends into slots 69 cut into the center of the top of each of the transverse dividers 16 to 22.

Even though the panel 14 is shifted to the side slot 52, it is still preferred to keep the upstanding table top divider 26 on the center line so that it will be in alignment with similar dividers on adjacent stands, and under these 1 conditions of course the lower edge of the tang 68 simply extends through into the compartment space beneath by a slight and unobtrusive amount and into the slots 69, so as to lock the top to the dividers 16 to 22.

The general alignment of the structure when assembled can be assured and an overall rigidity contributed by providing each of the dividers 16, 18, 20 and 22 with a peg near each end of the top edge which projects upwardly a matter of a quarter of an inch or so, and enters appropriate holes drilled into the lower surface of the top member 24. Thus when the top 24 is placed upon the center divider 14 and transverse dividers 16, 18, 20 and 22, these pegs prevent wobbling of the transverse partitions. Representative pegs are indicated at 70 in Figs. 4 and 7. Because of the weight of the various structural elements and the weight of the articles placed thereon when the stand is in use, all of the elements, once assembled, will be maintained solidly in place Without the necessity for any fastenings to prevent their separation.

The end panel 28 of Fig. 6, for instance, is taller than the dividers 16, 18, 20, or 22, since it extends to the top edge of the table top divider 26. Its inner surface has horizontal strips 72 secured thereto, which lie in a position directly beneath the end of the table top 24. These strips also carry pegs 74 which extend upwardly into holes in the underside of the table top. Directly beneath the baseboard 10 the end panel 28 also carries another horizontal strip 76 which has a length such that it is a close fit at its ends between the front and back rails 30. Preferably, wing screws or some other simple fastening, as is indicated at 78, extend through the rails 30 and into the ends of the strip 76 so as to prevent the bottom edge of the end panel 28 from being displaced outwardly.

The end panel, therefore, can be installed easily by slightly lifting the top 24 so as to clear the top ends of the pegs 74, afterwhich the end panel 28 is pushedinwardly and the top 24 lowered to engage the pegs 74 in their sockets. Thereafter, the bottom endof the panel 28 can be pushed or kicked inwardly and retained in place by inserting the wing screws 78.

The structure of the stand is therefore such that the entire article can be erected from the simple low cost plywood elements on the basis of very simple instructions and with almost no skill and without the use of tools. At any time it may be quickly taken apart and reassembled somewhere else. It should be noted also that many of the parts are duplicates of other parts, with theresult that less tooling is required than might reasonably be expected. For instance, all of the transverse dividers 16, 18, 2t), and 22 are identical, and the two ends 28 are identical with each other, even though they are assembled in reversed position depending upon whether they are used at the right or left end. This [is because all of the adjacent structure of the main portion of the stand is synnnetrical from side to side. All plywood used may be of uniform thickness, and all slots are of uniform width. The cost of manufacturing the article, therefore, is extremely low when compared with other arrangements which might be made for displaying and selling goods in a generally similar fashion.

From the above description of a preferred embodiment of my invention it will be appreciated that dimensions and other features may be changed as desired, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and that therefore the scope of the invention is to be determined from the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by'Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, said slots cross ing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a longitudinal vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith, a key extending through the other of said baseboard slots and into the rail slots in register therewith, said key being substantially identical to the tang portion of said panel, a plurality of vertical transverse panels, each of said transverse panels having I two upwardly extending slots therein, one of the last said slots being centrally located and the other being offset to one side by the distance between said baseboard slots, said longitudinal panel having slots formed downwardly from the top edge thereof to embrace said transverse panels, the top edge of all of said panels being in a common plane, a shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels, interengaging elements provided upon said shelf and upon said transverse panels to prevent relative movement between said panels and said shelf in a horizontal plane, said shelf having a longitudinal slot therethrough crossing at least two of said transverse panels, the last said panels having slots in register with said shelf slot, a vertical partition extending upwardly from said shelf, the lower edge of said partition having a tang extending through said shelf slot and into the registering slots in said transverse panels.

2. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, said slots crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a longitudinal vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said panel havingits lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith, a key extending through the other of said baseboard slots and into the rail slots in register therewith, said key being substantially identical to the tang portion of said panel, a plurality of vertical transverse panels, said transverse panels and said longitudinal panel being formed to provide mutually embracing slots, the top edges of all of said panels being in a common plane, a shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels, interengaging elements provided upon said shelf and upon said transverse panels to prevent relative movement between said panels and said shelf in a horizontal plane, said shelf having a longitudinal slot therethrough crossing at least two of said transverse panels, the last said panels having slots in register with said shelf slot, a vertical partition extending upwardly from said shelf, the lower edge of said partition having a tang extending through said shelf slot and into the registering slots in said transverse panels.

3. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, said slots crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said vertical panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith, and a key extending through the other of said baseboard slots and into the rail slots in register therewith, said key being substantially identical to the tang portion of said vertical panel.

4. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, said slots crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a vertical panel extending upwardly from from said baseboard, said vertical panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith, a key extending through the other of said baseboard slots and into the rail slots in register therewith, said key being substantially identical to the tang portion of said vertical panel, a plurality of vertical transverse panels, said transverse and said longitudinal i panels being formed to provide mutually embracing slots in either of the longitudinal panel positions, the top edges of all of said panels being in a common plane, a top shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels, and interengaging elements provided upon said top shelf and upon said transverse panels to prevent relative movement between said panels and said top shelf in a horizontal plane.

5. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, said slots crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said vertical panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith a key extending through the other of said baseboard slots and into the rail slots in register therewith, said key being substantially identical to the tang portion of said vertical panel, and a plurality of vertical transverse panels, said transverse and said longitudinal panels being formed to provide mutually embracing slots in either of the longitudinal panel positions.

6. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a pair of substantially identical, uniform width, straight, parallel, longitudinally extending slots therethrough, one of said slots being substantially centrally located, said slots crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slots in said baseboard, a longitudinal vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tank portion which fits through either of said baseboard slots and into said rail slots in register therewith, a plurality of vertical transverse panels, each of said transverse panels having two upwardly extending slots therein, one of the last said slots being substantially centrally located and the other being offset to one side by the distance between said baseboard slots, said longitudinal panel having slots formed downwardly from the top edge thereof to embrace said transverse panels, the top edge of all of said panels being in a common plane, and a shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels.

7. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a uniform width, straight, longitudinally extending slot therethrough, said slot crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slot in said baseboard, a longitudinal vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said panel having its lower edge formed to provide a tang portion which fits through said baseboard slot and into said rail slots in register therewith, a plurality of vertical transverse panels, said transverse panels and said longitudinal panel being formed to provide mutually embracing slots, the top edges of all of said panels being in a common plane, a shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels, interengaging elements provided upon said shelf and upon said transverse panels to prevent relative movement between said panels and said shelf in a horizontal plane, said shelf having .a longitudinal slot therethrough crossing at least two of said transverse panels, the last said panels having slots in register with said shelf slot, a vertical partition extending upwardly from said shelf, and the lower edge of said partition having a tang extending through said shelf slot and into the registering slots in said transverse panels.

8. In a display stand, a baseboard supporting structure formed as an open frame including front and back longitudinally extending rails connected by end and intermediate transverse rails, a baseboard supported upon said structure, said baseboard having a uniform width, straight, longitudinally extending slot therethrough, said slot crossing at least two of said transverse rails, the last said rails having slots formed therein in register with the slot in said baseboard, a longitudinal vertical panel extending upwardly from said baseboard, said panel having its lower edge formed to provide a portion which fits through said baseboard slot and into said rail slots in register therewith a plurality of vertical transverse panels, said transverse panels and said longitudinal panel being formed to provide mutually embracing slots, the top edges of all of said panels being in a common plane, and a shelf supported upon the upper edges of said panels. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,286 Hallett July 14, 1914 2,449,911 Roth Sept. 21, 1948 2,526,246 Leeper Oct. 17, 1950 2,626,059 Turner Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Column '7, line 37 strike out "from"; read -bang column 8, line 11, for "tank" Signed and sealed this 5th day of April 1960.,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Hi, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Offieer Commissioner of Patents 

